“Finishing”

I just finished watching Day 3 of this year’s Masters tournament. One of today’s greatest golfers, Jason Day, finished today with a chance to be in the lead, but unfortunately recorded bogey-bogey on the last two holes. He had a bad finish. The word finish is kind of an interesting word. I can mean so many things. It can be the final touches a painter does on a job, or the final touches on a product. It can be a noun, and it can be a verb, something you may want to stop or want to end. I’ve been thinking about the act of “finishing” lately when it comes to any kind entrepreneurship. This is not confined to technology and websites and mobile apps. I assume that nearly everyone who makes it this far has the skills and determination to start, to get over that initial hump. It is hard to start a product, or a business, or a services firm, or a restaurant, or coffee shop. Many people get over this hump, and it’s to be celebrated. But, how many “finish” in a manner they’re proud of? How many have the ability to concentrate in the face of being tired, exhausted, uncertain, and pulled in many professional and personal directions. Of the few things I’ve started, yeah, I got over the hump, but I didn’t finish with greatness. Jason Day today, one of the best golfers in the world, started this tournament on fire, but today, just today, he didn’t finish with strength. This is something that I look for when evaluating new products, services, and companies. While the work is never really done, there is always some level of “finishing” that it takes to make a success. Around here, I assume everyone can start, and the trick is to try to identify those who can also close it out.